Tour Summary
The Rwenzori mountain ranges are located in southwestern Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border, 291 kms from Kampala. This series of highlands hosts at least 70 mammal species, some of which are the forest elephants, chimps and monkeys, plus over 217 bird species. The activities to undertake at this Uganda destination include, but are not limited to, hiking (mountain climbing), sightseeing, community walks and nature walks.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala via mpambiire drum makers
Day 2: Nyakakalengija Trail head climb/hike
Day 3: Nyakalengija Trail head - John Matte Hut
Day 4: John Matte Hut - Bujuju Hut
Day 5: Bujuju Hut - Elena Hut
Day 6: Elena Hut - Margherita Peak
Day 7: Guy Yeoman Hut
Day 8: Nyabitaba Hut
Day 9: Descend to Nyakalengija Trail head
Day 10: Ruboni community walk and transfer back to Kampala
ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kasese
After your early morning breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide will pick up for a 5 hours’ fun-filled drive to Kasese via Mbarara. Having journeyed for 4 hours to the latter, which is 398 kms from Kampala, you will go through Bushenyi district, and then make it to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Before reaching Mbarara, you will have your first stopover at Mpambire in Mpigi district. This will be for traditional handicrafts, most especially the royal drums plus other memento. You will then proceed to the Uganda Equator monument in Kayabwe, located along the Masaka-Mbarara highway. Its structure is in form of a circle, labelled ‘N’ and ‘S’ at either sides. The monument is a point for the imaginary line believed to be dividing the world into two hemispheres—the Northern and Southern hemispheres. This is further demonstrated using water experiments on site. On the other hand, there are curio shops selling African art and crafts. From here, you will carry on with your journey via Mbarara for an hour’s lunch break. You will then proceed to the park, reach in the late afternoon, and thereafter check in at your accommodation. That evening, following your dinner will be your overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Lodge Bella Vista
Day 2: Nyakalengija Trailhead (1600m)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the headquarters of Mountain Rwenzori National Park for registration, briefing as well as securing a guide for your mountaineering adventure experience. It will begin with a 6 hours’ hike to Nyabitaba hut shortly after which you will connect to Nyakalengija trailhead (1600m) with your guides and porters. You will climb up to Nyabitaba Hut. The trail is composed of homesteads, local plantations and fields which you will sight as you pass via the trail along the Mubuku River. Furthermore, the trail is dotted with bamboo, buffs, shrubs and cliffs. While on this excursion, you will have a picnic lunch across the Mahoma River and afterwards you will ascend steeply through the bracken fern slopes plus podocarpus forest, and then finally make it to Nyabitaba Hut.
Accommodation
Nyabitaba Hut
Day 3: Nyakalengija Trailhead – John Matte Hut (3350m)
Having had your early morning breakfast and packed your lunch for the day at Nyabitaba Hut, you will follow the trail through the woodland to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the meeting point of the Bujuku and Mubuku rivers. You will then ascend via the bamboo forest, going across a long and strenuous stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. You will have your picnic lunch here and afterwards carry on with your adventure. From Nyamileju rock shelter, on clear-sight days, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. The final stretch to the John Matte Hut is across a strenuous marshland, the first of many for which the mountain is well known.
Accommodation
John Matte Hut
Day 4: John Matte Hut – Bujuku Hut (3900m)
After your morning breakfast at John Matte Hut, you will follow the trail that goes downhill to cross River Bujuku and enter Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping tussocks, one after the other, you will notice that the bog is crossed, but at times the feet taste the glacial ooze. The Upper Bigo Bog gives a way to Lake Bujuku, with the sight of Mt. Baker to the south and Mt Stanley to the west. You will have an hour’s lunch break before carrying on to Bujuku Hut, suitably positioned in the shadows of Mount Baker and Mount Speke.
Accommodation
Bujuku Hut
Day 5: Bujuku Hut – Elena Hut (4541)
From Bujuku, via more bog, the trail ascends the slopes west of the lake, going through the magical Groundsel Gully as it goes up to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. This you will undertake following your early morning breakfast that day. A metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail splits into two at the head of the channel. The right path goes up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders whereas the left path leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. Here the nights are cold.
Accommodation
Elena Hut
Day 6: Elena Hut – Margherita Peak (5109m)
Your hiking of Margherita peak (5109m) to the base of the Stanley Glacier will continue on this sixth day. This can be a walk of between 4 to 7 hours to the pinnacle of Margherita depending on the weather at the time and your guide’s seniority in discerning the topography of the area. It is indeed a hard walk over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very open sides. The physically fit folks are the only ones meant for this embarkation, and it is a technical climb which needs roping up, crampons and proper equipment for the cold, windy and icy conditions. It is good to try the final climb in a group of at least 2 to 4 climbers and 2 guides; (the extra guide has to be paid for at the time of booking). While at it, you will climb on to the glacier, cross the Stanley Plateau and move on with the rise.
Basing on altitude sickness, fog and weather, you will push up to the summit of Margherita, the highest summit of the Rwenzori. Coming back to Scott Elliot Pass, you will get magnificent views back to Bujuku Lake, Mount Speke, and up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. Once over the pass, the trail enters an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders. Following this, you will go down to Kitandara Hut for your overnight stay.
Accommodation
Kitandara Hut
Day 7: Guy Yeoman Hut (3470m)
After Kitandara, the trail goes up sharply to the headwall, spreading out from the Mount Baker base and proceeding to the south side of the mountain to the Freshfield pass. On a good day, you see part of the Congo in the west and Mount Stanley in the north. From the pass, the long mud-spattered trail goes down, snaking its way through the rock shelter at Bujongolo, which is the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Accommodation: Guy Yeoman Hut
Day 8: Nyabitaba Hut (2650m)
Waking up to the scillintilating sounds of Mother Nature for a morning breakfast Guy Yeoman Hut, you will kick-start your day. Your hike for this day will lead you through the path down which can however be slippery and muddy with little to hold on. Thus, you must be careful with balancing over the vertical mud or steep rocks. You will have your picnic lunch on your way, and then carry on with your hike, reaching Nyabitaba Hut later that evening for your dinner and accommodation.
Accommodation
Nyabitaba Hut
Day 9: Nyakalengija Trailhead (1600m) – Bella Vista Lodge
From Nyabitaba Hut, you will be required to move down gently to the muddy paths to the trailhead. You will arrive in the late morning, head to Kasese for lunch and then drive to Bella Vista Lodge for a much needed afternoon relaxation spree. Alternatively, you may take a hike to get a glimpse of the never ending panoramic views of Mountain Rwenzori and its crater lakes. This will be followed by your dinner, after which you will retire for the night.
Accommodation
Luxury: Bella Vista Lodge
Day 10: Ruboni Community Walks, Transfer Back to Kampala
After your early morning breakfast, you will head out for a village walk through Ruboni Community where you will get to spend time with the blacksmith and checkout the traditional healer in this rural community. You will also watch and take part in harvesting and preparing a meal, have a chance to have a Ruboni dance and drama experience, then later on return to your lodging for lunch. Thereafter, you set out on your journey back to Kampala where you will reach later that evening.
End of the Adventure Safari
ACTIVITIES
Mpambire Royal Drum Makers
Mpambire is a small town along Masaka road located some 30 kilometers west of Kampala. The town, despite its nondescript nature, is culturally one of the most important sites in Uganda, being the home of the royal drum makers of Buganda. Buganda is a sub-national kingdom in Uganda, also referred to as the kingdom of the Ganda people (the Baganda). It comprises the largest ethnic groups of Uganda, estimated around 6 million, focusing mostly in the country’s central region. The kingdom, itself a melting pot of several dozens of clans, has a long and illustrious history stretching back at least to the 14th century CE when King Kato founded the Kintu Dynasty. Buganda became a powerful state in East Africa and gave the name Uganda to the country as we know it today (Uganda is the Swahili word for Buganda).
Following Uganda's independence in October 1962, the kingdom was abolished by Uganda's first Prime Minister- Apollo Milton Obote- in 1966, but it was officially reinstated in 1993. Buganda is now a monarchy with a large degree of autonomy from the Ugandan state. Since the restoration of the kingdom in 1993, the king of Buganda, also known as the Kabaka, has been Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
If Buganda Kingdom plays a central role to defining the Ugandan contemporary notion of ethnic and national identity, then the royal drums play an equally pivotal function in defining Buganda culture. Buganda musical performances intertwine music, songs and rhythmical movements, all of which rely significantly on the driving force of the African drums- which are an essential part of the cultural DNA of all Ugandans.
Back then, drums played a big part in the life of Buganda and were also used as a form of communication in the traditional society. There were a number of drum beats for the drums, with each rhythm conveying a specific message which was clearly known and discerned by the concerned parties. For example, one rhythm could mean that a certain chief was passing by, a certain dance was taking place, a royal had died, a call to war, a fire alarm, et cetera. Music, dance and drumming also often accompanied different types of ceremonies including marriages, funerals, work and the birth of a newborn.
As a general rule, drums in Buganda belong to the Kabaka and when he presents a chief with any office, he confers upon him a drum. One of the most popular drums is the “Mujaguzo” (a Luganda word for “celebration” or “jubilation”), which is the biggest drum in the palace. The Ganda have a strong belief in power that is inherent in this drum, and the residents of Kijjudde were some of the people tasked to make these royal drums.
The Mpambire stop gives you an opportunity to experience cultural drum making by the royal drum makers of Mpambire. You can also get chance to have a finished product- a well made drum- as a souvenir.
The Equator
Uganda is one of only 13 countries in the world where the imaginary line that divides the earth into two halves can be crossed. This is of course the Equator, which lies equidistant from the North Pole and the South Pole and which is also the longest line of Latitude, just over 40,000 kilometers long. On our trip to the Western Uganda destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga, you will notice two cement circles marking the Equator line on the Kampala-Masaka road. Though these circles are not great aesthetic achievements, they certainly provide a tingling bout of excitement as those of us with two feet find ourselves lodged in the opposite hemispheres with a small step- with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the south hemisphere- or so we are led to believe. As soon as we seek a scientific response, the romance of firmly being ensconced in both hemispheres loses some of its allure. This is so because while a one-dimensional geometric locus (which is what a line is) has no width (hence we can straddle it easily), over time it has been calculated to cover an average of nine meters because of a variation known as the Chandler wobble.
But- as we live for today- we should all take a photographic evidence for posterity that at this moment in time, you can indeed be in both hemispheres!
If you are also an amateur scientist or a wannabe in that field, then our trip along the Kampala-Masaka road could give you an opportunity to test the Coriolis effect: and as your friends from Stockholm and Sydney will attest, water flows in different directions in those households. But be prepared for some bit of disappointment as this effect- referring to wind deflection in opposing directions in the hemispheres as a result of earth rotation- is so minimal that it will not make a great video memory post to your social media platform(s).
In spite of this, there is no need for despair as there are other tangible experiences at the Equator you could undertake with a bit of patience. For example, if you remain there long enough, you will find that the daylight and nighttime are precisely the same duration. Moreover, temperatures and humidity are fairly constant, thus making the guess-the-month from a photo-shoot a rather tricky undertaking.
It should thus not come as a surprise that the Kayabwe Equator stop is a truly unique opportunity to take photos, buy some local souvenirs and have a meal and a drink. Twist Africa Safari recommends the AidChild’s Equator Café and Gallery in particular, not only because it has excellent coffee and snacks and an unparalleled selection of contemporary arts and crafts for sale, but as it is one of the two centers by AidChild, a foundation focusing on development and education for an HIV-free generation. The revenue of the café provides tutoring, leadership coaching, job-skills training, music education, nutrition and wellness support to dozens of interns who then pass on the knowledge gained in their local community.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon,” are found in Western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. Famous for being one of the few snow-capped mountains in tropical Africa, the equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, standing at 5,109 meters above sea level. This magnificent mountain range is well-known for lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and beautiful plant life including some of the world’s rarest vegetation – all of which can be examined up close in one of the numerous walking tracks set in the Rwenzori National Park which is about 120 kilometres long and 65 kilometres wide. The mountain range is rich in magnificent flora and fauna, including rare and endangered mammals, with some two dozen rodent species among them, as well as large mammals such as elephants, leopards, chimpanzees and over 200 species of birds. Hiking ranges from the relatively easy day trips to the strenuous trekking excursions for fit and experienced climbers, including the possibility of 9-12 day trips to Margherita Peak.
For those also seeking cultural experiences during Uganda safaris and tours, the Ruboni community of Bakonzo village offers homestead visits, accommodation, including home-cooked local cuisine and cultural performances. The mountains are also home to the Bakonzo people who occupy the lower slopes on all sides of the mountain, traversing the mountain to trade and exchange with other villages, thus creating well-used footpaths across the mountain ridges of the northern spur, thereby connecting Kabarole and Bundibugyo districts.
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SAFARI INCLUSIONS
Safari includes:
Transportation in a Tour Van/Landcruiser.
Service of an English-speaking tour guide/Driver
Cultural village tour
Park admissions
Accommodation on full board
Entrance fees to all destinations as per the program.
Transfers to and from Entebbe Airport/Kampala
Safari excludes:
All activities not mentioned in the program
Phone call bills
Tips
International Transfers
Visas to Uganda
Gratitude to tour-guides
Personal insurance
Visas to Uganda
Personal effects of any nature
Hotel fees before and after the safari
Other Uganda safaris